Introduction

What is Dfns?

Dfns is a cybersecurity company providing crypto wallet infrastructure. The company develops the most secure wallet-as-a-service infrastructure in Web3. Founded in 2020 in Paris, Dfns was incubated by Techstars and Station F before becoming a SOC 2 Type 2 certified firm employing 26 people across 10 countries with over $20M raised since creation. 

Dfns is an API-first key management solution (KMS) designed to provide application developers with secure, plug-and-play access to blockchains. The KMS is a decentralized key management network using MPC (Multi-Party Computation) and built-in threshold recovery mechanisms. Dfns is designed with focus on developer experience to maximize programmability, minimize high-touch implementations and offer granular sets of permissions, controls and policies via secure API authentication credentials. 

Our mission is to become a leading building block in Web3 and provide key management technology for developers who want to make the future of finance safe and delightful.

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‍How Do Dfns work?

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The Dfns wallet management system utilizes APIs, peer-to-peer networking and cryptographic protocols to provide a decentralized key management solution for digital assets. Dfns offers a white-labeled SaaS that enables fast deployment of multi-chain wallets within any application. 

First, Dfns is a programmatic API-first developer tool focused on simplifying private key management to spare developers from dealing with blockchain complexity and wasting time on labor-intensive security setups. Second, Dfns is an MPC-based key management network designed to remove all single points of failure and trust to ensure high levels of business continuity with built-in threshold recovery capabilities.

To learn more, get started with our API docs

How Do Dfns work‍
To learn more, get started with our API docs

What are the main benefits of Dfns?‍

1. 📟 Programmable Wallets:
Our APIs/SDKs were designed for wallet programmability and zero touch implementations, enabling fast deployments and automation flows.

2. 🎛️ Programmable Governance:
Our APIs offer programmatic and granular sets of permissions, controls and policies via secure authentication credentials enabling various 2FA combinations which include biometrics, PIN code, Yubikeys, and more.

3. 🔐 Trust-Minimized Security:
Private keys are sharded using MPC/TSS and stored in TEEs across a decentralized key management network with built-in recovery mechanisms. The network is operated by fault-tolerant T3+/4 data centers in multiple jurisdictions.

4. 📑 Adaptive Compliance:
We enable composable key deployment schemes in various environments (cloud, geography, hardware, etc.) and modular signing flows to provide custodial or non-custodial wallets and meet regulatory requirements.

5. ⛓️ Multichain & Multiasset:
We support 30+ blockchains, 1,000+ tokens, multiple assets like RWA tokens, NFTs, BRC-20, ERC-20, and much more. We can also add new chains on-demand in less than 3 weeks.

6.🔌 DeFi Compatibility:
Our APIs can automate arbitrary smart contract calls and broadcast transactions on-chain using templated payloads and we integrate WalletConnect to facilitate transfers across Ethereum/EVM Dapps.

7. 📊 Scalable Availability:
Our network can create millions of wallets and manage peak hours without failing to assure 99.95% yearly availability rate thanks to our microservice-first architecture and cloud-based infrastructure.

8. ⚡ Fast Signing & KeyGen:
‍Our unique implementation of the CGGMP21 protocol with secure and efficient activation of presignatures enables us to generate multiple keys and signatures sub-second for ECDSA. No one has managed to achieve this yet.

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What makes Dfns different from competition?

Dfns differs in many ways depending on the alternative solution referred to. In essence, Dfns is the most secure wallet-as-a-service (WaaS) provider of the blockchain industry today. Pioneering the concept of an API-first developer tool for digital asset wallets, Dfns initiated its programmable wallet API development in 2020 demonstrating an unwavering commitment to making secure, decentralized key management accessible to all developers working in Web3. Dfns also boasts an exceptional team specialized in wallet security and related cryptography, actively pushing the scientific frontiers of MPC for crypto asset key management. Our team's expertise positions Dfns as one of the foremost authorities in the field.

Sales Team
If you are interested in our competitive analysis, email our sales team: sales@dfns.co 

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Which type of wallets Do Dfns build? 

Dfns is pioneering MPC wallet development. 

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What sets MPC wallets apart from other wallets?

Multi-party computation (MPC) wallets, also known as Threshold wallets, pave the way for the next generation of secure and resilient wallet solutions as they are uniquely capable of decentralizing private keys and offering unparalleled recovery mechanisms. For this reason, MPC wallets have become an integral part of institutional crypto stacks since 2018. MPC wallets run various cryptographic protocols enabling the distributed generation of private keys in the form of secret key shares. With these key shares (also known as “partial keys”) capable of collectively producing signatures while remaining separate, all single points of failure are effectively eliminated. MPC offers exceptional security and business continuity, as transactions can be signed with just a subset of available key shares (e.g., any 3 out of 5 shares). Moreover, MPC enables the repair and refreshing of key shares without forcing the public key or address to change. Another significant advantage of MPC wallets is their off-chain nature delivering several benefits that alternative wallet types cannot match, including enhanced privacy, scalability, cost-efficiency, composability, and regulatory compliance. MPC wallets have revolutionized the crypto landscape, providing a robust and versatile solution for secure and efficient key management in institutional settings.

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MPC wallets are mostly compared to three other main wallet types:

1. 💽 Hardware wallet:
Hardware wallets, which are physical key storage devices often resembling wearable USB sticks but available in various forms like suitcases, hard drives, or servers. Originally conceived by information security experts, who have promoted hardware security modules (HSM) as the most secure data protection method since the 1970s, these devices are now commonly used by early cryptocurrency investors. However, these wallets have encountered obstacles in gaining traction among businesses and institutions compared to other wallet types, primarily due to security, scalability, and operational limitations. While hardware wallets may serve occasional purposes in certain situations, they lack the potential to propel the entire digital asset industry towards widespread adoption. This is because they mostly operate in a closed, proprietary manner, failing to leverage the benefits of mutualized computation unlike SaaS services. As a result, businesses remain unconvinced of their viability, underscoring the necessity for alternative solutions capable of addressing the multifaceted demands of a rapidly evolving digital asset landscape.

2. 🖥️ Browser wallet:
Browser wallets, commonly referred to as conventional wallets, which are desktop browser extensions designed to generate seed phrases for users to independently secure. These wallets also enable users to export their private keys with a simple click. Among these, Metamask, an Ethereum wallet, stands out as the most renowned example with over 30 million registered users. Despite its popularity, Metamask faces persistent criticism for its inadequate security measures, subpar user experience, and limited support. Metamask is not the only browser wallet facing such criticism. This is attributed to their free and communal approach, which lacks a concrete business model or incentives to proactively cater to user demands.

3. 📝 Smart-contract wallet:
Smart-contract wallets which refer to smart contracts that can automate business logics on-chain. The first generation of smart contract wallets grappled with managing the divide between EOA and Contract Accounts and relied on multi-signatures to protect against private key compromise. The second generation of smart contract wallets emerged in 2023, based on ERC-4337 (aka Account Abstraction). This new approach allowed contract accounts to operate as externally-owned accounts, granting them the power to execute token transfers. Pioneering wallets like Argent adopted account abstraction and multisig functionality to enable seedless recovery through designated "guardians," who can be individuals or devices. These guardians approve transactions and assist users in wallet recovery if necessary. Despite the progress, smart contract wallets remain locked into the Ethereum ecosystem. Their main drawback lies in their current inability to deliver the desired level of cost-efficiency, scalability, privacy, speed, and regulatory compliance crucial for businesses serving millions of clients.

Dfns Blog
More about the differences between wallets can be found in our blog

What use cases is Dfns good at?

Dfns provides a comprehensive system for managing wallets, catering to a variety of business needs, from banking to gaming. This system enables businesses to securely store, send, and receive cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and other tokens. Our clients currently use our wallets for a range of activities, including regulated banking, trading, staking, stablecoin loans, treasury management, retail shopping, NFT gaming rewards, and more. Dfns's wallet infrastructure is adaptable to a wide range of applications, excelling in security-sensitive scenarios where simplifying blockchain complexities is crucial for easy access to digital assets. Through our API, developers can seamlessly integrate crypto wallets into their platforms in just a few days, benefitting from real-time security updates.

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Can I pool collateral on segregated wallets and verify balance on explorers?

Yes. Dfns enables you to generate unique wallets for each user and persist them as long as you need, eliminating the requirement for omnibus wallets. Also, Dfns operates without an internal ledger, ensuring complete transparency of all funds at all times through public blockchains and their respective explorers.

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Is Dfns serving any institutional clients engaged in retail lending?

Indeed, numerous licensed banking and trading platforms rely on Dfns for digital asset lending. Our esteemed clientele includes regulated entities in France (AMF), Germany (BaFin), the UK (FCA), Switzerland (FINMA), the UAE (ADGM), and various other jurisdictions.

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On what website or app can I see Dfns in action?

You can download the Arianee Wallet app empowering prestigious brands like Lacoste, YSL, Breitling, Rolex, IWC, Coca Cola, and many others. We expose some of our clients online

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What is the pricing for Dfns?

Our pricing is online

You pay only flat monthly (or annual) subscription fees – no transaction fees, no bps on AUM. Contractual commitments are available on an annual or pluriannual basis.

Below the monthly cost for additional wallets beyond 50K (aka Pro Plan): 

Questions about pricing?
‍Please contact support@dfns.co for any further questions on pricing.

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What are the usage limits with Dfns?

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‍Does Dfns provide a free plan or a demo version?‍

Does Dfns have a testnet and is it at par with mainnet?

Yes, we offer both testnet and mainnet environments. However, our mainnet supports more assets than our testnet, though we can integrate new assets to our testnet on demand.

‍Can I set up multiple applications, e.g., mainnet, testnet, staging, and dev environments?

Yes, we support any number of applications. 

‍How long does the onboarding take?‍

Our streamlined onboarding process typically takes less than an hour, unless you require more bespoke services with specific implementation details.

‍How much time does it take to implement and test Dfns? 

Integrating our SDK can take as little as 10 minutes, thanks to simple APIs. However, the total time depends on specific requirements, with a maximum witnessed integration time of 4 weeks.

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‍How fast can Dfns integrate new blockchains or tokens?

We integrate new blockchains in less than 3 weeks and new tokens in less than a day, assuming the blockchain is based on ECDSA or EdDSA.
(ajouter un diagram en side avec le timing)

‍Does Dfns provide custom settings for my plan?

Absolutely! With our Enterprise Plan, you gain access to an array of comprehensive custom support services, including on-demand blockchain integrations, advanced feature development, on-prem key deployment schemes, and much more.

Reach out to sales@dfns.co to get started.

‍In what countries Dfns's operate?

Dfns provides its services worldwide, except in countries subject to OFAC sanctions and those listed by FATF as gray or blacklisted, where offering our services may be prohibited.

Check out sanction OFAC countries in Sanctions Programs and Country Information

‍Who are investors of Dfns?

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‍How do I become a client?

Start by completing our form or send an email to contact@dfns.co
Our team will promptly reach out to you, sharing documentation and a link to schedule a call.

Become a client
Start by completing our form

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‍How do I contact support?

You can email our support team at care@dfns.co

Contact support
You can email our support team at support@dfns.co